§ 65. Mr. G. FABERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether grocers are entitled to sell 15 ozs. of tea and 1 oz. of paper as a pound of tea, or whether customers are entitled to have their tea weighed, and to pay for it, irrespectively of the paper in which it is packed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. G. Roberts)My hon. and gallant Friend has asked me to answer this question. A grocer who sold 15 ozs. of tea and 1 oz. of paper as a pound of tea would be liable to proceedings for fraud, but the practice of selling tea by gross weight is not illegal, if the transaction is free from misrepresentation.
§ Mr. LOUGHDid not a Parliamentary Committee inquire into this subject in the last two or three years and refuse to make any recommendations on it?
§ Mr. ROBERTSI am satisfied that the hon. Gentleman's statement is correct.
§ Sir W. ESSEXAre not vendors of tea, under the circumstances mentioned, compelled to place on the outside of the packet that the tea sold does not contain 16 ozs. of tea, but is sold simply as a reputed pound?
§ Mr. ROBERTSThat is what the latter part of my reply refers to. The sale by gross weight is not illegal provided there is no misrepresentation, but it has to be stated on the wrapper.